Daily Archives: December 12, 2014

North Zone Fire Managers Plan More Pile Burns

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forestFREDONIA – With the predicted onset of snow this weekend on the Kaibab Plateau, North Zone Fire Managers plan to begin preparations for burning hand piles at multiple locations across the North Kaibab Ranger District.

It is estimated that 100-200 acres of hand piles may be burned if weather conditions are agreeable.

Forest visitors should be aware that the planned treatment areas include Stina Point and the Dry Park Lookout area.

Generally, the pile burn season is an annual winter objective for fire crews to take advantage of snow conditions to burn piles and remove these fuels from the forest floor.

Fire managers will continue to monitor forecasts prior to igniting piles and burns will only be initiated if conditions are within established parameters for safe, effective fuel reduction treatments.

Weather conditions must allow for safe burning and the elimination of any threat of fire spreading to surrounding vegetation; pile burning will continue throughout the winter as weather permits.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

For additional information regarding the North Kaibab Ranger District pile burns, contact the North Zone Fuels Specialist, Dave Robinson, at (928) 643-8138.

Fire managers to burn piles as winter weather moves into area

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WILLIAMS – Kaibab National Forest fire managers plan to begin burning slash piles in multiple locations across both the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts as an approaching weather system is forecast to bring rain, snow and cooler temperatures to northern Arizona over the weekend. Piles are the result of past forest health and restoration treatments and are primarily composed of small-diameter trees, branches, twigs, pine needles and other remaining tree slash. The goal of pile burning is to remove fuels in the forest, lessening the potential for spread of future wildland fires and improving overall forest health conditions. In order to limit the chances of fire from a pile burn spreading into nearby trees or other fuels, fire managers often ignite piles just prior to or during snow or rain events.

Williams Ranger District

There are six areas of slash piles on the Williams Ranger District that fire managers plan to ignite this winter.

  • As early as today, fire managers are looking to burn 56 acres of piles on the south side of Davenport Hill north of Forest Road 140. Smoke from the pile burn may be visible in the Sherwood Forest Estates subdivision and from Interstate 40.
  • There are about 85 acres of piles near the Elephant Rocks Golf Course in Williams that are scheduled to be burned once snow flies. When these piles are ignited, residents of the Highland Meadows subdivision may notice some lingering smoke overnight.
  • The large slash pile at Moonset Pit in Parks will need to be burned once sufficient snow is on the ground. During much of the year, the Forest Service allows local residents to use the pit to dispose of woody debris from private property as a way to encourage creating defensible space. Each winter, the pit needs to be burned in order to allow that community service to continue. When the Moonset Pit pile is burned, smoke will be visible for several days due to its large size.
  • About 26 acres of piles are scheduled to be burned in the Brannigan Park area east of Parks. Minimal smoke impacts are anticipated.
  • There are 197 acres of piles in the McCracken project area that will be burned when conditions are appropriate. These piles are located near the junction of County Highway 73 and Forest Road 110 about 9 miles south of Williams. When the piles are burned, localized smoke impacts are likely, but these will dissipate rapidly.
  • Fire managers hope to burn 124 acres of piles on High School Hill just east of Williams once there is sufficient snow. Depending on conditions, the piles may be burned in segments over multiple days or all on a single day. Smoke from this pile burn will be visible from Williams and Interstate 40.

Tusayan Ranger District

Fire managers plan to burn two areas of slash piles on the Tusayan Ranger District as soon as conditions are appropriate.

  • There are 100 acres of piles just west of Grand Canyon Airport. Fire managers will look for the opportunity to burn the piles when there is an east wind, which will push smoke away from the airport and the Town of Tusayan. Given that east winds are predicted Monday, fire managers hope to begin ignitions then.
  • About 12 miles east of Tusayan near Russell Tank, there are another 100 acres of piles that need to be burned. Given the location of these piles, impacts to Tusayan are not anticipated.

Robbery at the Highway 89 Express Stop

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FLAGSTAFF – On Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at approximately 9:57 pm a 911 dispatcher received the report of a robbery that had just occurred at 4525 N. Highway 89 at the Express Stop.

During the investigation deputies learned that a male approximately 5’6” to 5’7” in height and last seen wearing all black clothing with his face covered, walked into the Express Stop and handed the clerk a note instructing her to empty the register. The clerk gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of cash. After taking the money the suspect exited the business and walked in a westerly direction towards the Wendy’s Restaurant.

Investigators believe the suspect waited until no customers were in the store before he approached the victim handing her the written note. Witnesses who were outside of the store reported seeing a male who was acting in a suspicious manner, possibly of Native American decent loitering in the parking lot just before the robbery occurred.

A Sheriff’s Deputy and her K-9 dog responded to the scene in an attempt to track the suspect’s scent. The dog followed a scent to a wooded area located west of the El Paso Natural Gas facilities at which point the K-9 appeared to lose the scent. No contact was made with any potential suspects.

Individuals who believe they may have information about this robbery or the identity or location of a possible suspect are urged to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523 or toll free at 1-800-338-7888 or Silent Witness at (928)774-6111.

Master Chorale performance Sunday

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peaks141209-07FLAGSTAFF – The Master Chorale is having their Christmas program this Sunday (Dec 14) at 3 pm. “Christmas in the Mountains” will be performed at the Ardrey Auditorium, NAU campus. A perfect addition to make this time of year even more special. For more information contact Shaula Watson.

There are still Christmas tree tags available for both the North Kaibab and Tusayan Ranger Districts of the Kaibab National Forest

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forestThe North Kaibab Ranger District office will be open tomorrow (Dec. 13) from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to sell Christmas tree permits. Close to 200 remain available. 430 S. Main St., Fredonia, 928-643-7395.

The Tusayan Ranger District office will also be open tomorrow (Dec. 13) from 8 a.m. to noon. About 75 permits remain available. 176 Lincoln Log Loop, Tusayan, 928-638-2443.

(All Christmas tree tags for the Williams Ranger District have been sold. No tags remain.)

Don’t miss this opportunity to start a fun family tradition. Cut your own Christmas tree on the Kaibab National Forest!

Doney Park Neighborhood Watch Meeting

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neighborhoodwatchFLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and District 4 Supervisor Mandy Metzger would like to invite residents of the Doney Park community to attend the monthly Neighborhood Watch meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2014. The meeting will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Summit Fire District Station 32 and Administrative Offices located at 8905 Koch Field Road Flagstaff, AZ. This will be our end of the year Holiday Pot-Luck meeting, so all participants are asked to prepare and bring their favorite Holiday dish.

Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll will be at the meeting to encourage continued neighborhood participation and to share information. District 4 Supervisor Mandy Metzger will be present to share information from Coconino County Government. Doney Park Community Deputies will be available to answer questions and provide support to this partnership between law abiding citizens, law enforcement and county government.

Our guest speaker will be Joe Meehan who is the former director of the Pioneer Museum. Mr. Meehan will give a very interesting and educational presentation on the History of the Doney Park area. All residents of the Doney Park area are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Lane restriction on SR 64 north of Williams required for gas pipeline repair work

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WILLIAMS – Restrictions will be in place for a one-mile segment of SR 64 north of Williams for both north- and southbound travel to accommodate emergency repairs on a gas line which runs under the roadway from MP 188 to 189.

The work will be conducted during daylight hours beginning Friday, Dec. 12 at 8 a.m., continuing through the weekend, and is expected to be completed by 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec 19. The repair work will be performed by El Paso Gas.

During repairs, traffic will be reduced to one lane for both north- and southbound travel with access maintained for both directions. The lane reductions will be in place for both day- and night time travel until the project has been completed. There may be delays through the project area so please allow for extra travel time, and drive with caution in the project vicinity.

I-17 southbound exit 337 (Flagstaff Pulliam Airport Exit) to be temporarily closed just south of Flagstaff for three hours

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FLAGSTAFF – Access to Exit 337 which accommodates I-17 Southbound travel to the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, and access to Sedona via SR 89A will require a temporary full ramp closure this coming Friday, Dec. 12 from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. This closure is necessary to accommodate the removal of concrete barriers on the ramp.

Southbound traffic can still travel to the Airport and to Sedona via SR 89A (Beulah Blvd.) from the City of Flagstaff or may instead continue on I-17 southbound to Exit 333, then travel back north up to Exit 337.

The temporary closure will be completed Friday morning with no additional closures anticipated. Please allow for extra travel time during the scheduled ramp closure, and drive with caution in the project vicinity.